Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 20:16

I really like hypothermia kold.....does that make it an essential black metal album?

I believe I gave better reasons for considering Aquilus' debut essential than simply "I like it". I also included a disclamer(ish) statement about how I can't recommend it with as much confidence as the other albums on my short little list. If it came across as me pushing my personal taste as the defintion of "essential", then I guess I should have worded it better and given even more reasons to back my opinions.

I want to repeat what I just said: You may be right and I may be mistaken. My intention wasn't to turn this thread into a simple "recommend stuff you like" type of thread. I sincerely believe that Griseus is a "must own" album and a pretty large amount of bm fans seem to agree, as it isn't simply the highest rated bm album of the 2010s here, it is the highest rated album of any genre. Of course, the fact that the majority of people who have heard that album seem to love it doesn't automatically make it a great album, but it does suggest that it is essential to check it out, if for no other reason than to see what the fuzz is about.

Written by Metren on 30.01.2016 at 20:25

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 20:11

I don't think that album has any special importance in black metal.

From what I can tell, it is an album that has brought quite many new fans to the genre. I've read comments online along the lines of "If black metal can be like this, then I am in" or "I wasn't searching for music like this, but I am into this now". It is also a masterpiece of songwriting and I almost never feel that way about albums with classical/symphonic elements, most of the time symphonic stuff just makes me feel ill.

Still, you may be right and I may be blinded by how much that album has continued to impress me. It is an essential album for me, one of those albums that I am jealous of, one of those albums, that makes me fall in love with metal and music again, every time I listen to it.

If "essential" is to be defined as "albums that have shaped the genre in a major way", then it probably isn't essential. If "essential" is to be defined as "showing how amazing and diverse a genre can be", then I believe Griseus is an essential album

I don't find that album to be essential to having changed the shape of bm in a major way, but that's just my opinion.

I don't think the op just meant what albums are essential to the individual, other wise it might as well just be whats your favorite album....wouldn't it?

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 20:38

I don't find that album to be essential to having changed the shape of bm in a major way, but that's just my opinion.

I don't think the op just meant what albums are essential to the individual, other wise it might as well just be whats your favorite album....wouldn't it?

Well, I also recommended "Sons Of Northern Darkness". That album is a masterpiece, but it didn't change anything, did it? It's just another album that shows how good bm can be. In my opinion, you might just as well have argued against that recommendation. I actually think Griseus is a somewhat more original album than that one.

That said, I see your point. I stand by all of my recommendations, but I appreciate that you made me think more in-depth about the topic. Now, I think we should get back to recommendations or take this discussion to the Aquilus' thread.

Enslaved's "Isa" and Deathspell Omega's "Si Monvmentvm..." feel like they belong to the proggier side of "essential black metal". Depending on how you define black metal, of course...

Written by Netzach on 30.01.2016 at 21:42

Enslaved's "Isa" and Deathspell Omega's "Si Monvmentvm..." feel like they belong to the proggier side of "essential black metal". Depending on how you define black metal, of course...

Isa proggy sure, but not DsO's Si Monvmentum, although I would call that one esessential but more for the orthodox black metal side of things.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 30.01.2016 at 21:45

Written by Netzach on 30.01.2016 at 21:42

Enslaved's "Isa" and Deathspell Omega's "Si Monvmentvm..." feel like they belong to the proggier side of "essential black metal". Depending on how you define black metal, of course...

Isa proggy sure, but not DsO's Si Monvmentum, although I would call that one esessential but more for the orthodox black metal side of things.

Yeah that's fair. Deathspell didn't really go "prog" until FAS.

I never understood the "orthodox" sub genre though. Mostly seen it applied to bands like Ofermod and the likes, which sound nothing like DsO's album.

Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black
Marduk - Opus Nocturne
Rotting Christ first three albums (but i like all the discography too lol)
Martyrium - L.V.X. Occulta (very rare obscure album, underrated)
Abigor - Nachthymnen (From the Twilight Kingdom)
Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)
Impaled Nazarene - Ugra-Karma (very violent , bestial album from finland)

this is only a few of them

Written by Neoxx07 on 30.01.2016 at 22:27


Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)

na i'd say Strid are the fathers of depressive black metal, debatable though

Written by Metren on 30.01.2016 at 20:37

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 20:16

I really like hypothermia kold.....does that make it an essential black metal album?

I believe I gave better reasons for considering Aquilus' debut essential than simply "I like it". I also included a disclamer(ish) statement about how I can't recommend it with as much confidence as the other albums on my short little list. If it came across as me pushing my personal taste as the defintion of "essential", then I guess I should have worded it better and given even more reasons to back my opinions.

I want to repeat what I just said: You may be right and I may be mistaken. My intention wasn't to turn this thread into a simple "recommend stuff you like" type of thread. I sincerely believe that Griseus is a "must own" album and a pretty large amount of bm fans seem to agree, as it isn't simply the highest rated bm album of the 2010s here, it is the highest rated album of any genre. Of course, the fact that the majority of people who have heard that album seem to love it doesn't automatically make it a great album, but it does suggest that it is essential to check it out, if for no other reason than to see what the fuzz is about.

Great album! Probably gonna buy it on vinyl because of the awesomeness. Probably not essential but still a great album.

Written by Netzach on 30.01.2016 at 21:42

Enslaved's "Isa" and Deathspell Omega's "Si Monvmentvm..." feel like they belong to the proggier side of "essential black metal". Depending on how you define black metal, of course...

I actually look for Deathspell Omega on vinyl, couldn't find it though

Written by Neoxx07 on 30.01.2016 at 22:27

Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black
Marduk - Opus Nocturne
Rotting Christ first three albums (but i like all the discography too lol)
Martyrium - L.V.X. Occulta (very rare obscure album, underrated)
Abigor - Nachthymnen (From the Twilight Kingdom)
Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)
Impaled Nazarene - Ugra-Karma (very violent , bestial album from finland)

this is only a few of them

Great list thanks.

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 22:35

Written by Neoxx07 on 30.01.2016 at 22:27


Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)

na i'd say Strid are the fathers of depressive black metal, debatable though

I looked for Strid once but its impossible to find.

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 22:39

Great album! Probably gonna buy it on vinyl because of the awesomeness. Probably not essential but still a great album.

Really glad to hear that you liked it!

Get either of the 1st 2 Emperor albums and Mayhem's Grand Declaration Of War. And Midnight Odyssey.

Midnight Odyssey? i think the op needs to explain what he means when he says essential

Haven't seen anyone mention the first Samael album. That one is essential as far as I'm concerned and every fan of black metal should at least give it a listen.

Written by Guest on 31.01.2016 at 06:48

Midnight Odyssey? i think the op needs to explain what he means when he says essential

Aquilus was mentioned earlier, so why not. Has anyone mentioned Nemesis Divina yet? Or Hail Horror Hail?

It's essential that you have my favourite bm release =D

just to say i contributed to the request: nobody mentioned Mayhem's De Mysteriis yet?
Attila's debut (on Mayhem), first one after dead's death, and also their best up until today

Mayhem's De Mysteriis is a must have! Behemoth - The Satanist I already have. Great album too. Watain - The Wild Hunt is also a great one. And yes Emperor. What about Enslaved?

I wouldn't call The Wild Hunt essential, though. Even though I love that album but from Watain I'd say Casus Luciferi is the essential album.

Written by Guest on 31.01.2016 at 14:10

Mayhem's De Mysteriis is a must have! Behemoth - The Satanist I already have. Great album too. Watain - The Wild Hunt is also a great one. And yes Emperor. What about Enslaved?

from that stupid band what is more dead then bm now, only svenelik storms over Baltic or what was that name

Written by Guest on 30.01.2016 at 22:35

Written by Neoxx07 on 30.01.2016 at 22:27


Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)

na i'd say Strid are the fathers of depressive black metal, debatable though

Maybe... he mean... the pioneers. I disagree Strid are father of dsbm.

Written by M C Vice on 31.01.2016 at 13:14

Has anyone mentioned Nemesis Divina yet?

Yes, I did.

Written by Karlabos on 31.01.2016 at 13:24


just to say i contributed to the request: nobody mentioned Mayhem's De Mysteriis yet?
... their best up until today

That'd be Grand Declaration Of War, wouldn't it?

Written by Neoxx07 on 30.01.2016 at 22:27

Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black
Marduk - Opus Nocturne
Rotting Christ first three albums (but i like all the discography too lol)
Martyrium - L.V.X. Occulta (very rare obscure album, underrated)
Abigor - Nachthymnen (From the Twilight Kingdom)
Bethlehem - Dark Metal (the fathers of depressive black)
Impaled Nazarene - Ugra-Karma (very violent , bestial album from finland)

this is only a few of them

I own that Martyrium album and it's very underrated indeed, but look at 1994 in terms of black metel:
- Satyricon - The Shadowthrone
- Rotting Christ - Non Serviam
- Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
- Samael - Ceremony Of Opposites
- Darkthrone, Emperor, Enslaved...

Well, as a lot of people said before, it really depends of your tastes.

Here are my suggestions (they are black metal in some way and from Norway):

- Windir.
- Borknagar.
- Vintersorg.
- Old man's child.
- Kampfar.

From other countries, you could try with:

- Abyssos.
- Anorexia nervosa.
- Samael.
- Hecate enthroned.
- Melechesh.
- Manegarm.
- Summoning.

There are a lot of good black metal bands. These are a few that I like.

Written by immortal83 on 03.02.2016 at 13:19

Well, as a lot of people said before, it really depends of your tastes.

Here are my suggestions (they are black metal in some way and from Norway):

- Windir.
- Borknagar.
- Vintersorg.
- Old man's child.
- Kampfar.

From other countries, you could try with:

- Abyssos.
- Anorexia nervosa.
- Samael.
- Hecate enthroned.
- Melechesh.
- Manegarm.
- Summoning.

There are a lot of good black metal bands. These are a few that I like.

Vintersorg are from Sweden and although great, never released an essential black metal album. Actually neither of your suggestions, with the exception of Windir maybe, are as essential as Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum, Dissection, Emperor, Ulver and such. Månegarm are not even that "black". They hade some black metal influences early on, but are most of the time pure folk metal.

Written by Warman on 04.02.2016 at 16:19

Written by immortal83 on 03.02.2016 at 13:19

Well, as a lot of people said before, it really depends of your tastes.

Here are my suggestions (they are black metal in some way and from Norway):

- Windir.
- Borknagar.
- Vintersorg.
- Old man's child.
- Kampfar.

From other countries, you could try with:

- Abyssos.
- Anorexia nervosa.
- Samael.
- Hecate enthroned.
- Melechesh.
- Manegarm.
- Summoning.

There are a lot of good black metal bands. These are a few that I like.

Vintersorg are from Sweden and although great, never released an essential black metal album. Actually neither of your suggestions, with the exception of Windir maybe, are as essential as Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum, Dissection, Emperor, Ulver and such. Månegarm are not even that "black". They hade some black metal influences early on, but are most of the time pure folk metal.

What a mistake! You're right, Vintersorg are from Sweden.

Should we say that the only essential albums are from 'The Inner Circle' and a few bands more (Immortal, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir)? Could bands like Summoning and Agalloch have some essential albums? And another band that could be included here is Cradle of filth, with the albums Dusk and her embrace and Cruelty and the beast, in my opinion, despiting the fact that they're from UK and many people doesn't consider them as a black metal band.

Thanks everybody! Some great recommendations.

Deathcrush for me is not an essential, it doesn't even worth my time.